How Can I Inspire My Child While They Are in Recovery?

In the United States, there are approximately 23.5 million people in long-term recovery. They have decided that the negative consequences and the lifestyle that accompanies being an addict are no longer worth the high they get from their drug of choice.

If you have a child in recovery it is important that you try to remain positive and optimistic. People in recovery do not benefit from negative behavior or negative surroundings. Just as addiction has an impact on the entire family, the support and love of an entire family can help dispel addiction. A cross-pollination of faith and support will give the child their best chance at sustaining a positive change for the rest of their life.

Get Support For Yourself Too

There are many support groups available for the parents of child addicts. In these support groups, you will meet other adults in situations similar to yours. Hiring a personal counselor or a coach can also give you many useful tools for dealing with your worries and concerns regarding your child, how they ended up in rehab and what their future looks like.

Stay in Touch Frequently

It is especially important for parents to acknowledge the effort their child is making. Celebrate any milestone no matter how small they may seem.

Make sure that your child knows that you are there for them to talk to whenever they feel the need to do so. Remain positive, respectful, and encouraging. What your child is going through is difficult and they need you for support and they need to know that they are still loved.

Encourage Healthy Choices

Positive reinforcement is an invaluable tool when it comes to supporting good decisions that your child makes. Rewards can vary from something as simple as extra time together to dinner out at their favorite restaurant.

Be careful that you are supporting your child’s recovery and not enabling or bribing them. Make sure that rewards are given only after the positive behavior has taken place and of the child’s own doing.

Encourage Recovery Friendships

The same way that a support group for other parents with children in recovery will be helpful to you, maintaining positive friendships with people who are also in recovery will have a positive impact on your child. Having a few friends with whom they can get together casually or call when they need to will go a long way towards aiding their recovery process.

Strong friendships are important for children in general and this is no less true for those who happen to be in recovery.